Nurse Manager
What Is a Nurse Manager?
A nurse manager directs, supervises, and leads the nursing staff of a hospital or medical facility. The nurse manager’s role is fast-paced, and multi-dimensional, requires organization and critical thinking, and is vital to patient care as they oversee the nurses that provide direct care. They must have excellent skills in both nursing and business-related tasks, including coordinating schedules, managing budgets, and handling personnel matters.
How to Become a Nurse Manager
Since nurse managers must supervise other nurses, natural leaders and those who enjoy helping others succeed are well-suited for the role. Having experience in a wide variety of nursing styles is also a good trait to have, as nurse management positions may open up in any number of nursing units. Strong leadership skills, excellent communication, and an interest in the business side of nursing are must-haves for this career path. Beyond the role of a nurse manager, there are several other admin-related jobs in the healthcare field that nurse administrators sometimes get confused with:
| Nursing Role | Description | Certifications |
| Charge Nurse | Oversees a specific unit or department during a shift, managing patient care, assigning tasks to nursing staff, and ensuring efficient operations. | Registered Nurse (RN) license; often requires Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). |
| Nurse Administrator | Responsible for the overall management of a chain of medical facilities. This role and the role of a nurse manager are sometimes referred to interchangeably, but typically a nurse manager only looks after one hospital where a nurse administrator will oversee an entire chain of hospitals or medical facilities. | RN license; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) often required; Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) optional. |
| Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) | Provides and oversees patient care, evaluates outcomes, and implements evidence-based practices to improve quality. | RN license; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a CNL focus; CNL certification from AACN. |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | Acts as an expert in a specialized area of nursing practice, providing advanced patient care, consultation, and system improvements. | RN license; MSN or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with CNS specialization; CNS certification in specialty area. |
| Nurse Supervisor | Oversees nursing staff, ensuring compliance with policies, addressing issues, and coordinating between departments. | RN license; BSN often preferred; leadership certifications like CNML beneficial. |
| House Supervisor | Manages hospital operations during off-hours (nights, weekends), addressing staffing needs and emergencies across units. | RN license; BSN preferred; experience in various nursing roles; leadership certifications advantageous. |
| Unit Coordinator | Facilitates communication within a unit, managing administrative tasks, scheduling, and ensuring smooth operations. | RN license; certifications depend on facility requirements; administrative experience beneficial. |
| Head Nurse | Leads a nursing unit, managing staff, overseeing patient care, and ensuring adherence to protocols and standards. | RN license; BSN or higher often required; leadership certifications like CNML or NE-BC beneficial. |
What Are the Schooling Requirements for a Nurse Manager?
In order to become a nurse manager, an individual must first attend an accredited university or college and graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN). The nurse must pass a board exam called the NCLEX-RN to receive a nursing license.
After this has been completed, the nurse must obtain experience in the form of direct patient care, ideally in an acute care setting such as a hospital. Length of experience is variable, though many employers will require at least 5 years’ experience for this type of role. Many nurse manager positions promote and hire from within the staff nurses if there is interest.
The next step in this process is to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Master’s in Healthcare or Business Administration (MHA/MBA) from an accredited school. For some nurse manager positions, this step is optional, though highly desired.
Learn about post-master’s nursing administration/management certificate programs and MSN in Executive Nurse Leadership programs.
Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?
There are two paths designated by the American Organization of Nurse Executives for certification:
- Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP): This certification is geared toward nurse leaders working in nurse executive positions. The requirements to obtain this certification include: active unrestricted RN license, master's degree with two or more years experience in a executive nursing role or a baccalaureate in nursing and four years of experience in an executive nursing role. There is a fee and nurse must pass an exam to obtain certification.
- Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML): This certification is geared toward nurse leaders in a nurse manager role and is offered in collaboration with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The requirements to obtain this certification include: active unrestricted RN license, BSN degree or higher with two or more years experience in a nurse manager role, or a non-nursing bachelor's with three years of experience in a nurse manager role, or an associate’s degree with five years of experience in a nurse manager role. There is a fee and the nurse must pass an exam to obtain certification.
What Does a Nurse Manager Do?
Nurse managers are a vital component of any healthcare setting. They are responsible for supervising a nursing unit in a hospital or clinic. That includes direction of nursing staff, oversight of patient care and some management or budget decisions. In other words, instead of spending their day screening patients and checking vitals, they are establishing work schedules, coordinating meetings and making personnel decisions.
Where Does a Nurse Manager Work?
Nurse managers are typically found in hospitals where they oversee and manage nursing staff on a specific unit or specialized floor. However, they may also be found in:
- Ambulatory care centers
- Long-term care centers
- Nursing homes
- Assisted living centers
What Are the Roles and Duties of Nurse Managers?
A nurse manager wears many hats and has many responsibilities, some of which may include:
- Recruit, retain and evaluate nursing staff
- Provide training for nursing staff if role is not designated to another staff person
- Act as liaison between interdisciplinary teams and nursing staff
- Assist patients and families, including handling escalated situations
- Manage paperwork such as medical health records
- Oversee day-to-day operations on unit
- Manage/report finances and budgeting
Nurse Manager Salary & Employment
A nurse manager’s salary will vary depending on setting, experience, and other factors. The national average salary is $102,684 per year, though the range is from $79,500 to $150,000. Typically, a higher salary for nurse managers can be found in hospital settings, particularly in fast-paced Intensive Care Units.
Due to the extensive experience requirements to become a nurse manager, many enter nursing management and tend to stay. There are further opportunities for nurse managers within leadership, including: nurse educator, director of nursing, clinical nurse specialist, patient care coordinator, and nurse case manager.
| Average Yearly Salary | |
| Top 10% of Earners | $150,000 |
| Top 25% of Earners | $116,000 |
| Median | $102,684 |
| Bottom 25% of Earners | $79,500 |
Nurse Manager FAQs
As liaisons between the nursing staff and the organization, there are challenges that nurse managers must overcome.
One challenge is ensuring the nursing staff is adequately trained, and the units are adequately staffed. The manager must solve staffing issues by communicating directly with float staff or with a staffing office. They must approve overtime occasionally, and ask nurses to come in on their day off. Meanwhile, staff nurses may express frustration over staffing issues - often directly to the manager.
Nurse managers must also act as “cheerleaders” to motivate staff and keep them engaged. Nurses have a high rate of burnout and sometimes need extra support. Staff meetings and team-building activities help keep staff motivated, and nurse managers often act as the facilitator. On the flip-side, nurse managers must also assess and remediate staff who have difficulty or are resistant to change. This can include further education, training, and sometimes discipline. Many nurse leaders develop a close working relationship with staff, so when discipline or counseling is required, it can be difficult for them. It’s important to take a step back and look at the big picture - many times discipline is required for the good of patient care and the organization.
Nurse managers must also meet the needs of their organization, including metrics and state/federal requirements. Performance measures need to be examined and improved upon frequently.
Helpful Organizations, Societies, and Agencies
- American Organization of Nurse Executives
- American Nurses Association
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Nurse Leader Journal
